KUALA NERUS – PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was a better person now since becoming the country’s seventh Prime Minister.
He said Dr Mahathir had vast experience in administering the country and more mature than he was before.
“Before, (when he became prime minister) he (Dr Mahathir) was in his 40s, now he is in his 90s. The society has changed, the situation is different now…his thinking has also changed. He has so much experience and learns from his past mistakes. From his past experiences, we assume he has become more matured now and that’s why he promised to give the oil royalty to Kelantan and Terengganu,” he told a media conference after opening the 64th PAS general assembly at the Terengganu Sports Complex here yesterday.
Also present were PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, its spiritual leader Datuk Hasyim Jasin and secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan.
Asked on PAS-UMNO cooperation, Abdul Hadi said it would not be the first time to happen as PAS had always been a platform for leaders who were not wanted and rejected by their parties.
“At one time before, we accepted UMNO members who were expelled, including Dr Mahathir after he was expelled by Tunku (Tunku Abd Rahman) where the PAS’ stage served as a place for Tun Mahathir to give his political talks in Selangor in 1969. Likewise with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. PAS became a platform to save these leaders so that we would not lose them and they could continue to survive through our stage as their lifeline,” he added.
Asked whether PAS was prepared to join Pakatan Harapan, Abdul Hadi said “to wait and see”.
“Its normal in democracy. In a democratic country, we do not resort to aggression. We see if they can accept our agenda positively. In politics, friends become enemies, enemies become friends,” he added.
— BERNAMA
